“The already packed race for U.S. Senate in Florida became more crowded with the entrance of Congressman Connie Mack IV who officially threw his family name into the ring. Mack is well versed in throwing his name around, relying more on his family’s history than his lackluster record in Tallahassee and Washington or his vast professional experience planning parties for Hooters.

“Mack and the GOP field continue their race to the right, appealing to the party’s far-right fringe and distancing themselves from the very independent-minded voters of Florida that decide elections. The bottom line: Mack brings more of the same Tea Party ideology we’ve seen from a field of contenders who have failed to gain traction against the independent leadership of U.S. Senator Bill Nelson. As Nelson remains strong and focused on the general election, Mack will no doubt take heat from all sides in what is sure to be a bruising primary.”

Congressman Connie Mack’s Record: Too Extreme for Florida

Mack Voted For Republican Budget That Ends Medicare As We Know It. In April 2011, Mack voted for the House Republican budget blueprint drafted by Paul Ryan that effectively ends Medicare. The budget would allow $2.859 trillion in new budget authority for fiscal 2012, including up to $1.019 trillion in non-emergency discretionary spending. It calls for $659 billion in security spending and $360 billion in non-security spending. It proposes converting the federal share of Medicaid to a block grant to states. It calls for converting Medicare for persons currently younger than 55 into a "premium support system" through which the government would pay private insurance companies directly for each enrollee. It also proposes consolidating the current six tax brackets and cutting the corporate tax rate and the top individual tax rate to 25 percent. It assumes the extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts beyond 2012 and projects that the budget deficit would be reduced to $391 billion by fiscal 2021. The resolution was adopted 235-193. [H Con Res 34, Vote 277, 4/15/11]

Mack’s Letter to Rick Scott Commended Him on Rejection of Rail Funds to Create Jobs. In March 2011, Mack wrote a letter to Governor Scott saying “I commend you on your courageous rejection of federal funds which would have put the State of Florida in debt to the federal government.” [Letter, 3/07/11]

Mack Voted In Virtual Lockstep With the GOP and the Tea Party in the Last Two Years. “Mack sees himself as a forerunner to the budget-slashing mood that defines Republicans and the tea party.” And “Mack is a party loyalist, voting with the GOP 97 percent of the time in 2010 and 2009.” [Herald/Times, 10/28/11]

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